Sonar Barcelona Announces 2011 Line-Up

Cecilia Doreng-Stearns / March 30, 2011

As winter in New York City slowly melts away around us, festival season looms larger and larger on the horizon, with events increasing in frequency all around the world along with the rising temperatures. One such event that is particularly noteworthy is Sonar Festival of Advanced Music and Technology, which takes place in the heart of Barcelona, Spain. Sonar was without a doubt one of the highlights of last summer’s musical adventures, and we cannot wait to see what the extraordinary festival has to offer this June 16, 17, and 18, 2011.

There could not be a more perfect setting than Barcelona for such a festival celebrating new, primarily electronic based, music and accompanying technology. The city itself is warm, friendly, and free, containing the perfect combination of historical nostalgia and modern evolution. Sonar by Day takes place in the heart of downtown, with performances primarily centered around the MACBA and the CCCB. Surrounding the festival location are narrow winding streets, welcoming tapas bars and cafes, and lively watering holes brimming with Catalan spirit. As the sun sets and the energy builds, partygoers flock to Sonar by Night, which is located in an enormous warehouse space located on the outskirts of the city near L’Hospitalet. The nighttime festivities carry on far into the morning, with big name DJs, producers, and live bands keeping everyone dancing across three massive stages.

Festival passes for all 3 days can be purchased HERE, along with passes to individual days and nights. Visit Sonar’s WEBSITE for more information and for continued updates as the June draws closer.

See our coverage of DAY 1, DAY 2, and DAY 3 of last year’s Sonar and get a feel for what the event has to offer, and click HERE to go straight to the photo galleries of all Sonar by Day, Sonar by Night, and Off-Sonar events from 2010.

Check out the incredible full line-up of artists below!

Nicolas Jaar, Toro Y Moi, Tyondai Braxton, Little Dragon, Floating Points, Raime, Denseland, Open Reel Ensemble, Daito Manabe, Shuttle, Dels, Offshore, Eskmo, Astrud + Col·lectiu Brossa, Agoria, Hauschka, Atmosphere, Dominique Young Unique, Oy, Xesús Valle, Facto y los Amigos del Norte, How To Dress Well, Holy Other, Actress, Apparat, Global Communication, Hype Williams, Gilles Peterson, Shangaan Electro, No Surrender, Filewile, EVOL, Edredón, Judah, DJ Sith & David M, Downliners Sekt, C156, Steve Reich + bcn216 + Synergy Vocals, M.I.A., Aphex Twin, The Human League, Cut Copy, Boys Noize, Die Antwoord, Trentemøller, A-Trak, Scuba , Steve Aoki, Munchi, Djedjotronic, Schlachthofbronx, Annie Mac + Katy B, Benji B + Pearson Sound, Toddla T + Redlight feat. Ms Dynamite & Dread MC, Mujuice, DZA, Diskjokke, Annie, Bjorn Torske, Underworld, Magnetic Man, Janelle Monáe, Chris Cunningham, Shackleton, James Holden, The Gaslamp Killer, Surgeon, Buraka Som Sistema, Africa Hitech, Paul Kalkbrenner, Mary Anne Hobbs, Yelle, Silent Servant, Noaipre, L-Vis 1990 b2b Bok Bok, Egyptrixx, Deadboy, Jackmaster, Lory D, Redinho, Spencer, Jessie Ware, Rone, Arandel, Clara Moto, Alva Noto + Ryuichi Sakamoto, Katy B, Zinc, Tiger & Woods, B. Bravo, Brandt Brauer Frick, Daisuke Tanabe, Discodeine, Illum Sphere, kidkanevil, Juan Son, Jullian Gomes, Poirier feat. Boogat, Teebs, Venice

Massive Trouble & Bass Event this Friday w/ Toddla T, Redlight and Untold

Mitch Strashnov / March 28, 2011

The first day of April brings up something truly historic in terms of Trouble & Bass party history; three UK bass juggernauts come to New York City to command and conquer the dancefloor at Good Units. Whether you like your bass experimental, grime-inspired or all over the place, this is the night you’re looking for. This one is truly going to be special, especially when you have the trifecta that is Untold, Toddla T & Redlight.

CLICK HERE to RSVP for reduced $10 admission before midnight. All RSVPs will be entered to win a pair of tickets to the event. Keep reading for more info about the amazing line-up…

A-Trak To Embark on Magic 8-Ball Tour this Spring

Marjana Jaidi / March 23, 2011

Next month, A-Trak will embark on a cross-country tour with Kid Sister and The Gaslamp Killer. A-Trak has a knack for combining electro and hip hop (if you don’t know what we mean, CLICK HERE to check out his last mixtape, Dirty South Dance 2), and is best known for his legendary scratching skills, for which he won the DMC World Championship at the tender age of 15 (the youngest winner to date). Lately, A-Trak has kept busy as one half of Duck Sauce, who’s single, “Barbra Streisand” was an international hit. We’re hoping this tour will give us a preview of what we can expect from A-Trak’s upcoming album.

Joining the Magic 8-Ball Tour on the ones and twos is The Gaslamp Killer, who we saw this past weekend at A Taste of Sonar in London. From what we saw, GLK is a perfect match-up for this tour; like A-Trak, he has an uncanny way of mixing hip hop with electro (and has some scratching skills to boot), but the two artists’ styles are completely different.

The Magic 8-Ball Tour hits NYC’s Terminal 5 on Saturday, April 30 with special guest The Clipse. Get a full list of tour dates and links to purchase tickets HERE.

Totally Enormous Performance at Public Assembly

Chris Lunney / March 22, 2011

Shuffling into the back room of Public Assembly, we weaved over to the far side, getting cozy amongst the suby sound system and the filling crowd. Anna Lunoe warmed up the house with a wide selection of tracks. She was a delightful opener with striking elegance in her style to her charged delivery. This brilliant DJ from Sidney Australia brought confidence onto the dance floor. Cuing up tracks as well as her dance moves, one only had to follow the swish in her hips to notice she was delivering her own swing. Staggered bass kicks, vibing Latin rhythms, and spun back decks that snapped straight into rhymes atop driving subs. Catalyzing these first drops of sweat, Lunoe launched the crowd into their flow for the night.

Climbing the stage steps, Orlando Higginbottom of Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs dropped behind the curtain for a quick costume change. Emerging in a black cloak adorned with silver stegosaurus spikes lining the crown of the hood, he stepped up to his table of wire woven electronics. Anna Lunoe faded out one last song into an effected draw, allowing TEED to pick up the energy where she left off. Immediately the crowd followed his command. Tapping through his computer, and swiftly dodging over to his Korg we anticipated his every composition. Shifting his attention to the mic the music emptied into a clearing allowing his effect-pedal etched vocals to drift through the space. Shoulders relaxed and ears softened into the melodies of his lyrics. Then only beats after his last word in the chorus, the surge plummeted. We found ourselves in the air after the perfection of treacherous sound erupted through the floor. These infectious drums pounded through souls the entire performance.

Never knowing what might come next kept all eyes locked on the head dressed conductor. His slightly somber attitude asserted a confidence over his drifting set. However the understated vibe did not take away from his music’s energy. Constantly switching between dodgy bass lines, vocal breaks, and tense builds, the set flew seamless. I constantly found my self praying for the release of an album. But then again, it might be impossible to translate the spontaneity of his live act to into the realm of a full-length recording. While dropping into one song he had the crowd following his every move, clapping along with hands overhead throughout the build. The bass finally let out and the entire audience jammed along with him, jumping and twirling, hands still clapping in the air. In that very instant driven by his enthusiasm for carefully articulated bass and techy percussion, Orlando Higginbottom accomplished what he came here to do. Enable this crowd to confidently unravel themselves into the undeniable joy of his sound.

2Following this unforgettable one-man band came the second Australian. Beni hopped on deck striking quickly towards a specific direction. His enthusiasm was not well received in part of the crowd, which soon made their exit after TEED had left the stage. Charging through some opening tracks, the dancing feet soon started to stutter over the electronic breaks. His selections were slightly more acute than the breadth that Lunoe and TEED had covered. Between the faithful TEED fans leaving, and the sonic energy now sculpted into a new shape, the remaining Public Assembly patrons seemed to dwindle. There appeared to be a longing for the familiar deep droning tribal bump that fueled the night up to this point, but this was already left behind. Beni tried to twist through his set and grab the audience, but they had already seen what they had come for.

Despite the flickering crowd at the end, this past Saturday at Public Assembly rumbled with international talent. Lunoe conjured up the dancing spirits inside us all and handed over the rhythmic wand to TEED. Then orchestrating our travel through sound Orlando Higginbottom enchanted the room with his ingenious resonance. Wandering atop the charm of his vocals and then dropping straight into shredded pulsations the crowd lost its self in his magic. Either fully satisfied with no room for more, or just simply out of the know about the massive talent to follow, the crowd dissolved leaving Beni little to work with. I am grateful to of had my calendar marked for this event, because if you were there that night, no matter what time you exited the doors of 70 N6th, there was certainly an echoing pulse in your step the entire walk home.

36 Hours at Sunday School in Miami this Weekend

Cecilia Doreng-Stearns / March 22, 2011

I personally can’t imagine anything better than dancing under the hot Miami sun to beats from some of the greatest DJs and producers in the world. Add to this my never-ending desire to keep the party going, and I can’t imagine anything better than Made Event’s Sunday School. This 36 hour party at the Ice Palace will take place from this Friday March 25 through Sunday the 27. The line-up is beyond incredible, featuring some of the best house, techno, and electro artists of the moment from all over the world (see flyer below).

This is sure to be the party of the week, so don’t miss out on this incredible event. Tickets can be purchased HERE for either the entire 36 hours, the first 12 hours, or the last 24 hours, depending on your stamina. Check out shots from last year’s Sunday School HERE, and we’ll see you in Miami!

Sonar 2011 Kicks off in London with Buraka Som Sistema and The Gaslamp Killer

Marjana Jaidi / March 22, 2011

Last Saturday, we jetted to London to catch A Taste of Sonar, the annual preview event for the three-day festival held in Spain in June. Buraka Som Sistema has been at the top of my must-see list ever since their live show was described to me as a “life-changing experience”. So I when I saw the opportunity to route my return flight through London, I jumped at the chance to catch their show.

SXSW: Odd Future Gets Fader Fort Riled Up

Cecilia Doreng-Stearns / March 19, 2011

Friday was the hottest day in Austin yet, but this didn’t deter any of the thousands of SXSW attendees who poured into the streets in the early afternoon and didn’t leave until the next morning. One of the most hyped events was the performance by Odd Future at the Fader Fort, as their rebellious musical style and in your face attitude has become legend over the past few months. Their performance was intensely aggressive and unapologetically offensive, which was exactly what the crowd seemed to be lusting for. Despite threats to from Odd Future to break all the photographer’s cameras, we managed to snap a few shots of the event. Keep your eyes open for the full photo gallery in the next few days!

Mishka brings us a taste of Buraka Som Sistema just in time for A Taste of Sonar in London

Marjana Jaidi / March 18, 2011

Tomorrow, we’re heading to London to catch A Taste of Sonar, Sonar Festival’s annual preview event in London. Headlined by Buraka Som Sistema, the event is meant to give the London audience a taste of some of the artists playing at the Barcelona festival this June. Buraka will perform on the main stage, along with The Gaslamp Killer and Noalpre. The second stage, curated by the Red Bull Academy, will feature MJ Cole, Benji B, Axel Boman, Braiden and Tiger & Woods.

And how’s this for impeccable timing: last week, Mishka released the 24th edition of their Keep Watch Mix series, featuring none other than Buraka Som Sistema. It’s a great mix with chilled out moments and some fun remixes. Definitely check it out – CLICK HERE to cop a free download, courtesy of Mishka.

For those residing in London, A Taste of Sonar, is happening at The Roundhouse in Camden. Tickets are available HERE.

Enormous Performance at Public Assembly This Saturday

Chris Lunney / March 16, 2011

Sifting through the event emails a while back, this popped up and made its self a highlight on my calendar for the month of March. On Saturday the 19^th, Public Assembly will host Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs alongside Beni. Brought to you by the beautiful people at MeanRed Productions, this show will restructure perspectives on what it means to perform dance music.

Coming straight from Austin with a slight detour through Montreal and Toronto, TEED finally lands in Brooklyn. The performer behind the dinosaur headdress is Orlando Higginbottom, who has built his career starting in his hometown of Oxford England. Growing up with his dad as a music professor for Oxford University, composing, performing, and teaching have all been part of his development. Orlando’s expressions have been recognized by the likes of Annie Mac, who aired his very own ‘Household Goods” on Radio 1. There after the song received a spaced-out-tickly remix by Justin Martin. Now he finds himself stepping on stage at some of the year’s largest events including HARD in LA and SXSW.

Stepping on stage the same night is the Australian extraordinaire Beni. Trekking throughout the world for his career, Beni has stepped along side Gang Bang Deejays, and produced with Riot In Belgium. His sound has been identified on a global scale; working in remixes for Tiga, Digitalism, Fischerspooner, La Roux, and Alex Gopher. Most well known for his single ‘Maximus’, Beni’s sound stretches deep into the reaches of funked up disco to the deep acidy club jams.

Grab your tickets here:

Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs & Beni @ Public Assembly Sat. 19

SXSW: Windows 7 Party with RJD2

Cecilia Doreng-Stearns / March 16, 2011

Our first day of SXSW in sunny Austin, Texas kicked off with a Windows 7 event at The Belmont right in the center of downtown. The event featured Chiddy Bang and RJD2, among others, who both rocked the house with their respective sets. The event featured, along with the array of musical talent, a casino room, barber shop, ice-luge, and of course plenty of free food and drink. Chiddy Bang got the night going, performing to a packed house of excited SXSW attendees, most of whom were just beginning their week of music. RJD2 then took it away with his set of hip-hop influenced electronic music, including a lot of old favorites such as “The Horror” and “Ghosts & Mirrors” that got the crowd literally jumping for joy.

Keep an eye for for up to the minute SXSW updates on our Facebook page.